EP1148829A4 - Method and apparatus for intraocular retinal tack inserter - Google Patents

Method and apparatus for intraocular retinal tack inserter

Info

Publication number
EP1148829A4
EP1148829A4 EP00915688A EP00915688A EP1148829A4 EP 1148829 A4 EP1148829 A4 EP 1148829A4 EP 00915688 A EP00915688 A EP 00915688A EP 00915688 A EP00915688 A EP 00915688A EP 1148829 A4 EP1148829 A4 EP 1148829A4
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
retinal
tack
electrode element
eyeball
electrodes
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
EP00915688A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1148829A1 (en
Inventor
Robert J Greenberg
Joseph H Schulman
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Vivani Medical Inc
Original Assignee
Second Sight Medical Products Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Second Sight Medical Products Inc filed Critical Second Sight Medical Products Inc
Priority to EP08009182A priority Critical patent/EP1958577A3/en
Publication of EP1148829A1 publication Critical patent/EP1148829A1/en
Publication of EP1148829A4 publication Critical patent/EP1148829A4/en
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61NELECTROTHERAPY; MAGNETOTHERAPY; RADIATION THERAPY; ULTRASOUND THERAPY
    • A61N1/00Electrotherapy; Circuits therefor
    • A61N1/02Details
    • A61N1/04Electrodes
    • A61N1/05Electrodes for implantation or insertion into the body, e.g. heart electrode
    • A61N1/0526Head electrodes
    • A61N1/0543Retinal electrodes
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61BDIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B17/00Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets
    • A61B17/064Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61BDIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B17/00Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets
    • A61B17/068Surgical staplers, e.g. containing multiple staples or clamps
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61BDIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B17/00Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets
    • A61B17/08Wound clamps or clips, i.e. not or only partly penetrating the tissue ; Devices for bringing together the edges of a wound
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61FFILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F2/00Filters implantable into blood vessels; Prostheses, i.e. artificial substitutes or replacements for parts of the body; Appliances for connecting them with the body; Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents
    • A61F2/02Prostheses implantable into the body
    • A61F2/14Eye parts, e.g. lenses, corneal implants; Implanting instruments specially adapted therefor; Artificial eyes
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61FFILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F9/00Methods or devices for treatment of the eyes; Devices for putting-in contact lenses; Devices to correct squinting; Apparatus to guide the blind; Protective devices for the eyes, carried on the body or in the hand
    • A61F9/007Methods or devices for eye surgery
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61FFILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F9/00Methods or devices for treatment of the eyes; Devices for putting-in contact lenses; Devices to correct squinting; Apparatus to guide the blind; Protective devices for the eyes, carried on the body or in the hand
    • A61F9/007Methods or devices for eye surgery
    • A61F9/00727Apparatus for retinal reattachment
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61BDIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B17/00Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets
    • A61B2017/00367Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like
    • A61B2017/00398Details of actuation of instruments, e.g. relations between pushing buttons, or the like, and activation of the tool, working tip, or the like using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61BDIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B17/00Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets
    • A61B17/064Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
    • A61B2017/0641Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue having at least three legs as part of one single body
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61BDIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B17/00Surgical instruments, devices or methods, e.g. tourniquets
    • A61B17/064Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
    • A61B2017/0647Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue having one single leg, e.g. tacks
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61FFILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F2220/00Fixations or connections for prostheses classified in groups A61F2/00 - A61F2/26 or A61F2/82 or A61F9/00 or A61F11/00 or subgroups thereof
    • A61F2220/0008Fixation appliances for connecting prostheses to the body
    • A61F2220/0016Fixation appliances for connecting prostheses to the body with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes

Definitions

  • This invention relates to implanting retinal tacks using a piezoelectric driver.
  • Another embodiment it relates to implanting a retinal implant with spike-like electrodes
  • this tool has a restricted functional ability to tack devices to the back of
  • This invention is a method and apparatus for implanting retinal tacks.
  • This invention is a method and apparatus for implanting retinal tacks.
  • a tack suitable for insertion into the retina is driven into the retina by
  • a single, short impulse is used to drive the tack
  • Electrodes is driven into the retina (or other suitable tissue which can hold the implant)
  • the spiked electrodes may have a barbed point so as to facilitate
  • a single, short impulse is used to drive the
  • the spiked electrodes are
  • the spike electrodes may have a type of
  • a plurality of spike electrodes may be dummy electrodes in that
  • corner dummy electrodes may anchor the retinal electrode element, which may even have the rest of its electrodes shorter than the dummy electrodes or have the rest of the electrodes as flat electrodes.
  • Figure 1 shows a retinal tacker that uses an electronically driven piezoelectric
  • Figure 2 shows a retinal tacker that uses a remote impulse driver connected by a tube
  • Figure 3 shows a retinal implant tacker, for an implant with spiked electrodes, that uses an electronically driven piezoelectric crystal
  • Figure 4 shows a retinal implant tacker, for an implant with spiked electrodes, which
  • Figure 5a shows a barb similar to a retinal tack for use with the spiked electrodes
  • Figure 5b shows a barb similar to a fishhook for use with the spiked electrodes
  • Figure 6a shows a plurality of dummy non-working electrodes that extend beyond the
  • Figure 6b shows a plurality of dummy non- working electrodes that extend
  • This invention is a method and apparatus for implanting retinal tacks and into the
  • FIG. 3 shows a retinal tacker that uses a piezoelectric crystal (3) electrically driven by
  • the electrical or electronics unit (1) also
  • the piezoelectric crystal undergoes a constriction-
  • piezoelectric crystal (3) is set into a vibrating motion that is mechanically coupled, by
  • a mechanical system (5) in Fig. 1 or Fig. 2, holds a retinal tack (6).
  • the tack is
  • the material used must be sufficiently non-reactive with the back of the eyeball (sclera)
  • tack is implanted, as well as the retina itself, and the vitreous humor fluid of
  • the tack is inserted into the eye with the holder and placed against the retinal
  • the vibrating crystal is mechanically coupled to the tack (6) and allows the surgeon to insert the tack (6) into the retina (9) with less force.
  • the vibrations allow the
  • the vibrations make it easier to insert the tack into the sclera, since the relaxation time of the organic tissues is shorter for breaking and longer for bending.
  • each vibration is a short movement, the high rate of vibration results in effectively a longer, but individually for each vibration, a quick cutting action.
  • Figure 3 illustrates the piezo-electric driver (Figure 1) for a retinal tack ( Figure 1,
  • the head (21) of a retinal tack (5) is mounted on or near the center of the retinal implant
  • the holder (5) fits the head-of-tack fitting (21) and the operation is similar to driving a single tack.
  • One embodiment of this invention uses four arms (22) to steady the four corners of a rectangular shaped back surface of the electrode element (20).
  • the electrode element (20) is shown
  • a plurality of spike electrodes may be dummy electrodes in that they function only as mechanical anchors, and do not function as electrodes.
  • four comer dummy electrodes may anchor the retinal electrode element, which may even have the rest of its electrodes shorter than the dummy electrodes or have the rest of the electrodes as flat electrodes.
  • Figure 2 shows a retinal tacker that uses a piston (7) electrically driven by electrical
  • circuitry (12) is turned on causing a piston (7) to impact hydraulic fluid (10) in a thin tube (8).
  • the sudden impulse of the piston (7) is transmitted to the tack (6) being held in its tack holder (5). This sudden impulse drives the tack (6) into the retinal wall (9).
  • the sudden impulse is such that a large amount of force is transmitted in a very short time. Consequently the tack is forced into the desired organic tissue and
  • Figure 4 illustrates the hydrauUc driver ( Figure 2) for a retinal tack ( Figure 2, (6)) applied to the retinal implant (20) with spike electrodes (23).
  • the head (21) of a retinal tack ( Figure 2, (6)) is mounted on or near the center of the retinal
  • the implant (20) The holder (5) fits the head-of-tack fitting (21) and the operation is similar to driving a single tack ( Figure 2, (6)). However, the large number of spike electrodes (23) can require either a larger voltage input into the piston driving circuitry
  • One embodiment of this invention uses four
  • the electrode element (20) is shown with a curvature so as to conform to the curvature of the retina (9).
  • Figure 5 a shows a barb (51) similar to a retinal tack.
  • the tack-type barb (51) is formed as part of the spike electrode (52).
  • Figure 5b shows a barb (53) similar to a fishhook
  • the fishhook-type barb (53) is formed as part of the retinal element's spike electrodes (52). The barb help the electrode stay anchored in the tissue in which it has been driven by one of the embodiments of this retinal tacker invention.
  • spike electrodes may be dummy electrodes in that they function only as mechanical
  • corner dummy electrodes (611) may anchor the retinal electrode element (20), which may even have the rest of its electrodes (612) shorter than the dummy electrodes (611)
  • the head-of-tack fitting (21) is also shown with the retina (9).
  • the retinal tack or the spike electrode with its barb may attach a retinal electrode element in an epiretinal or subretinal position. It may attach other items and the retina as well as a retinal electrode element or other eye implantable element to the back of

Abstract

This invention is a method and apparatus for implanting retinal tacks (6) and retinal electrode element (20) with spiked electrodes (23). In one aspect of the invention, a tack suitable for insertion into the retina (9) is driven into the retina (9) by the repeated minute blows from the rapid contractions and expansions of the piezoelectric crystal (3). In a different aspect of the invention, a retinal electrode element (20) with spiked electrodes (23) suitable for insertion into the retina (9) is driven into the retina by the repeated minute blows from the rapid contractions and expansions of the piezoelectric crystal. In another aspect of the invention, a single, short impulse is used to drive the tack home. In a different aspect of the invention, a single, short impulse is used to drive the retinal electrode element (20) with spiked electrodes (23) home. With this mode of tack and electrode element (20) implanting, a remotely placed driver couples its motion to the tack using a thin, elongated tube filled with a suitable hydraulic fluid.

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTRAOCULAR RETINAL TACK INSERTER
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to implanting retinal tacks using a piezoelectric driver. In
another embodiment it relates to implanting a retinal implant with spike-like electrodes,
using a piezoelectric driver. It also relates to the use of a remote impulse driver,
connected to a tack in a tack-holder, by a hydraulic fluid. In another embodiment it
relates to the use of a remote impulse driver, connected to a retinal implant with spike-
like electrodes in an implant-holder, by a hydraulic fluid.
The Prior Art
An example of a preexisting tool for implanting retinal tacks is Sinnett, U. S. Patent
No. 4,784,138; and No. 4,712,550. Actual laboratory experience with the Sinnett tool
found that an apparatus like Sinnett' s applied too much force to the retina.
Consequently, this tool has a restricted functional ability to tack devices to the back of
the eye. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention is a method and apparatus for implanting retinal tacks. In one aspect
of the invention, a tack suitable for insertion into the retina is driven into the retina by
the repeated minute blows from the rapid contractions and expansions of the
piezoelectric crystal.
In another aspect of the invention, a single, short impulse is used to drive the tack
home. With this mode of tack driving, a remotely placed driver couples its motion to
the tack using an elongated tube filled with a suitable hydraulic fluid.
Similar method and apparatus is used for implanting a retinal implant having spike¬
like electrodes. In another aspect of the invention, a retinal implant with spike-like
electrodes is driven into the retina (or other suitable tissue which can hold the implant)
by the repeated minute blows from the rapid contractions and expansions of the
piezoelectric crystal. The spiked electrodes may have a barbed point so as to facilitate
their remaining imbedded in the interior wall of the back of the eye.
In a different aspect of the invention, a single, short impulse is used to drive the
retinal implant with spiked-electrodes home. With this mode of driving the spiked-
electrode retinal implant, a remotely placed driver couples its motion to the implant
using an elongated tube filled with a suitable hydraulic fluid. The spiked electrodes are
driven into tissue suitable to hold it in place. The spike electrodes may have a type of
barb point on them so as to facilitate their remaining imbedded in the interior wall of
the back of the eye. A plurality of spike electrodes may be dummy electrodes in that
they function only as mechanical anchors, and do not function as electrodes. Thus, four
corner dummy electrodes may anchor the retinal electrode element, which may even have the rest of its electrodes shorter than the dummy electrodes or have the rest of the electrodes as flat electrodes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above and other features and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description wherein:
Figure 1 shows a retinal tacker that uses an electronically driven piezoelectric
crystal; Figure 2 shows a retinal tacker that uses a remote impulse driver connected by a tube
filled with hydraulic fluid;
Figure 3 shows a retinal implant tacker, for an implant with spiked electrodes, that uses an electronically driven piezoelectric crystal;
Figure 4 shows a retinal implant tacker, for an implant with spiked electrodes, which
uses a remote impulse driver connected by a tube filled with hydraulic fluid;
Figure 5a shows a barb similar to a retinal tack for use with the spiked electrodes;
Figure 5b shows a barb similar to a fishhook for use with the spiked electrodes;
Figure 6a shows a plurality of dummy non-working electrodes that extend beyond the
lengths of the electrodes and anchor the retinal electrode element to the back of the
eyeball;
Figure 6b shows a plurality of dummy non- working electrodes that extend
sufficiently beyond the relevant lengths of the electrodes which are proportioned to the curvature of the retinal and anchor the retinal electrode element to the back of the
eyeball. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The following description is of the best mode presently contemplated for carrying
out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is merely
made for the purpose of describing the general principles of the invention. The scope
of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims.
This invention is a method and apparatus for implanting retinal tacks and into the
retina, as well as for doing the same for retinal implants with spike electrodes. Figure 1
shows a retinal tacker that uses a piezoelectric crystal (3) electrically driven by
electrical source (11), which may be a battery. The electrical or electronics unit (1) also
contains required resonant elements. The piezoelectric crystal undergoes a constriction-
relaxation cycle under the application of an alternating current via wires (2). Thus, the
piezoelectric crystal (3) is set into a vibrating motion that is mechanically coupled, by
the tack holder (5) to the retinal tack (6).
A mechanical system, (5) in Fig. 1 or Fig. 2, holds a retinal tack (6). The tack is
made from titanium or from a similarly sufficiently biologically non-reactive material.
The material used must be sufficiently non-reactive with the back of the eyeball (sclera)
where the tack is implanted, as well as the retina itself, and the vitreous humor fluid of
the eye.
The tack is inserted into the eye with the holder and placed against the retinal
surface. As shown, in Fig. 1 , when the tack (6) is touching the retinal surface (9), the
electronic drive circuitry (1) is turned on which causes the piezoelectric crystal (3) to
vibrate. The vibrating crystal is mechanically coupled to the tack (6) and allows the surgeon to insert the tack (6) into the retina (9) with less force. The vibrations allow the
hard tack to enter the soft tissue of the retina instead of pushing it out of the way.
Advantageously, the vibrations make it easier to insert the tack into the sclera, since the relaxation time of the organic tissues is shorter for breaking and longer for bending.
Each vibration imparts a quick cutting effect to the leading point of the tack. Although
each vibration is a short movement, the high rate of vibration results in effectively a longer, but individually for each vibration, a quick cutting action. The longer time
comprises the sum of the individual forward vibration times and the non-forward part of the vibration stroke.
Figure 3 illustrates the piezo-electric driver (Figure 1) for a retinal tack (Figure 1,
(6)) applied to the retinal implant (20) with spike electrodes (23). In this embodiment
the head (21) of a retinal tack (5) is mounted on or near the center of the retinal implant
(20). The holder (5) fits the head-of-tack fitting (21) and the operation is similar to driving a single tack. A plurahty of arms (22) emanating and anchored to the holder (5)
act to steady the implantable electrode element (20). One embodiment of this invention uses four arms (22) to steady the four corners of a rectangular shaped back surface of the electrode element (20). In Figures 1,2,3 and 4, the electrode element (20) is shown
with a curvature so as to conform to the curvature of the retina (9). However, the large
number of spike electrodes (23) can require a larger voltage input into the piezo-electric
crystal so as to produce a proportionally larger force (approximately). In another aspect
of the invention, a plurality of spike electrodes may be dummy electrodes in that they function only as mechanical anchors, and do not function as electrodes. Thus, four comer dummy electrodes may anchor the retinal electrode element, which may even have the rest of its electrodes shorter than the dummy electrodes or have the rest of the electrodes as flat electrodes.
Figure 2 shows a retinal tacker that uses a piston (7) electrically driven by electrical
source (11), which may be a battery. In this alternative embodiment, the electronic
circuitry (12) is turned on causing a piston (7) to impact hydraulic fluid (10) in a thin tube (8). The sudden impulse of the piston (7) is transmitted to the tack (6) being held in its tack holder (5). This sudden impulse drives the tack (6) into the retinal wall (9).
Advantageously, the sudden impulse is such that a large amount of force is transmitted in a very short time. Consequently the tack is forced into the desired organic tissue and
does not just push it back or bend it.
Figure 4 illustrates the hydrauUc driver (Figure 2) for a retinal tack (Figure 2, (6)) applied to the retinal implant (20) with spike electrodes (23). In this embodiment the head (21) of a retinal tack (Figure 2, (6)) is mounted on or near the center of the retinal
implant (20). The holder (5) fits the head-of-tack fitting (21) and the operation is similar to driving a single tack (Figure 2, (6)). However, the large number of spike electrodes (23) can require either a larger voltage input into the piston driving circuitry
or a larger fluid driving piston so as to produce an approximate proportionally larger
force. A plurality of arms (22) emanating and anchored to the holder (5) act to steady the implantable electrode element (20). One embodiment of this invention uses four
arms (22) to steady the four corners of a rectangular shaped back surface of the
electrode element (20). In Figures 1,2,3 and 4, the electrode element (20) is shown with a curvature so as to conform to the curvature of the retina (9).
Two types of baibs for the retinal element's spike electrodes are shown in Figure 5.
Figure 5 a shows a barb (51) similar to a retinal tack. The tack-type barb (51) is formed as part of the spike electrode (52). Figure 5b shows a barb (53) similar to a fishhook
barb. The fishhook-type barb (53) is formed as part of the retinal element's spike electrodes (52). The barb help the electrode stay anchored in the tissue in which it has been driven by one of the embodiments of this retinal tacker invention. A plurality of
spike electrodes may be dummy electrodes in that they function only as mechanical
anchors (Figure 6a and b), and do not function as electrodes. Thus (Figure 6a), four
corner dummy electrodes (611) may anchor the retinal electrode element (20), which may even have the rest of its electrodes (612) shorter than the dummy electrodes (611)
or have the rest of the electrodes (Figure 6b) as retina matching curved envelope
electrodes (613). The head-of-tack fitting (21) is also shown with the retina (9).
The retinal tack or the spike electrode with its barb may attach a retinal electrode element in an epiretinal or subretinal position. It may attach other items and the retina as well as a retinal electrode element or other eye implantable element to the back of
the interior of the eyeball, in any order, impaled on the tack or the barbed spike
electrode, dummy or real. The practical limitation is placed by the length of the tack or barbed spike electrode, real or dummy and by the holding power of the imbedded tack
or barbed spike electrode, real or dummy.
While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be
made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the
invention set forth in the claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:
1. A method for implanting a retinal tack comprising the steps:
a. holding the retinal tack;
b. applying a vibrating forward and back motion to the retinal tack;
c. forcing the tack into the retina and other materials to be secured and into the
back of the eyeball;
d. forcing the tack into the back of the eyeball.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of originating the vibrating
back and forth motion with a piezoelectric crystal.
3. A method for implanting a retinal tack comprising the steps:
a. holding the retinal tack;
b. applying a sudden force to the tack;
c. forcing the tack into the retina and other materials to be secured and into the
back of the eyeball, in any order;
d. forcing the tack into the back of the eyeball.
4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of originating the sudden
force from a driven piston.
5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of imparting the piston's
force directly to the tack.
6. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of imparting the piston's force indirectly to the tack using a hydraulic fluid contained within a thin tube.
7. An apparatus for implanting a retinal tack comprising: a. means for holding the retinal tack;
b. means to vibrate the tack in a forward and back direction;
c. means to force the tack into the retina and other material to be secured and into the interior back surface of the eyeball, in any order; d. forcing the tack into the back of the eyeball.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a piezoelectric crystal as a source of vibrating forward and back motion.
9. An apparatus for implanting a retinal tack comprising: a. means for holding tack; b. means for applying a sudden force to the tack;
c. means for forcing the tack into the retina and other materials to be secured to
the interior back surface of the eyeball, in any order;
d. forcing the tack into the back of the eyeball.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a driven piston that supplies the
sudden force to the tack.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising the direct transfer of the piston's
sudden force to the tack.
12. The apparatus as in claim 9 further comprising the indirect transfer of the
piston's sudden force using hydraulic fluid means.
13. A method for securing a retinal electrode element to the back of the eyeball
comprising the steps:
a. holding and steadying the retinal electrode element;
b. applying a vibrating forward and back motion to the retinal electrode element;
c. forcing the electrode element's spike electrodes, real or dummy and into
materials to be secured to the back of the eyeball and into the retina, in any order;
d. forcing the electrode element's spike electrodes, real or dummy, into the back
of the eyeball.
14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of originating the
vibrating back and forth motion with a piezoelectric crystal.
15. A method for securing a retinal electrode element to the back of the eyeball
comprising the steps:
a. holding and steadying the retinal electrode element;
b. applying a sudden force to the retinal electrode element;
c. forcing the electrode element's spike electrodes, real or dummy, into the retina
and other materials to be secured to the back of the eyeball, in any order; d. forcing the electrode element's spike electrodes, real or dummy, into the back of the eyeball.
16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step of originating the sudden
force from a driven piston.
17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of imparting the piston's
force directly to the retinal electrode element.
18. The method of claim 16 further comprising the step of imparting the piston's
force indirectly to the retinal electrode element using a hydraulic fluid contained within
a thin tube.
19. An apparatus for securing a retinal electrode element to the back of the
eyeball comprising : a. means for holding and steadying the retinal electrode element;
b. means to vibrate the retinal electrode element in a forward and back direction;
c. means to force the retinal electrode element's spike electrodes, real or dummy
into the retina and into other material that is to be secured to the interior back surface of
the eyeball, in any order;
d. means to force the retinal electrode element's spike electrodes, real or dummy,
into the back of the eyeball.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising a piezoelectric crystal as a source of vibrating forward and back motion.
21. An apparatus for securing a retinal electrode element to the back of the eyeball comprising:
a. means for holding and steadying the retinal electrode element;
b. means for applying a sudden force to the retinal elecfrode element; c. means for forcing the forcing the retinal electrode element's spike electrodes, real or dummy, into the retina and into other materials that are to be secured to the
interior back surface of the eyeball, in any order; d. forcing the retinal electrode element's spike electrodes, real or dummy, into
the back of the eyeball.
22. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising-a driven piston that supphes the
sudden force to the retinal electrode element.
23. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising the direct transfer of the
piston's sudden force to the retinal electrode element.
24. The apparatus as in claim 21 further comprising the indirect transfer of the
piston's sudden force using hydraulic fluid means.
25. An apparatus comprising a barb means formed as part of the elongated spike electrode of the retinal electrode element so as to keep the electrode from pulling out of the living tissue in which it is implanted.
26. A method comprising the step of forming a barb on a plurality of the
elongated spike elecfrodes of the retinal elecfrode element so that the electrode will tend to not pull out of the living tissue in which it is embedded.
27. An apparatus comprising a barb means formed as part of the elongated spike dummy non- working electrode to keep the dummy, non- working electrode from pulling
out of the living tissue in which it is implanted.
28. The apparatus of claim 27 further comprising a plurality of dummy non- working electrodes that extend beyond the lengths of the electrodes and anchor the
retinal electrode element to the back of the eyeball.
29. The apparatus of claim 27 further comprising a plurality of dummy non-
working electrodes that extend sufficiently beyond the relevant lengths of the elecfrodes
which are proportioned to the curvature of the retinal and anchor the retinal electrode
element to the back of the eyeball.
30. An method comprising the step of forming a barb means as part of the
elongated spiked dummy non-working electrode in order to keep the dummy, non-
working electrode from pulling out of the living tissue in which it is implanted.
31. The method of claim 30 further comprising the step of forming a plurality of
dummy non-working electrodes that extend beyond the lengths of the elecfrodes in
order to anchor the retinal electrode element to the back of the eyeball.
32. The method of claim 30 further comprising the step of forming a plurality of
dummy non-working electrodes that extend sufficiently beyond the relevant lengths of the electrodes which are proportioned to the curvature of the retinal so as to anchor the retinal electrode element to the back of the eyeball.
EP00915688A 1999-01-05 2000-01-04 Method and apparatus for intraocular retinal tack inserter Ceased EP1148829A4 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP08009182A EP1958577A3 (en) 1999-01-05 2000-01-04 Apparatus for intraocular retinal implant insertion

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US09/225,267 US6165192A (en) 1999-01-05 1999-01-05 Method and apparatus for intraocular retinal tack inserter
PCT/US2000/000092 WO2000040161A1 (en) 1999-01-05 2000-01-04 Method and apparatus for intraocular retinal tack inserter
US225267 2002-08-20

Related Child Applications (1)

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EP08009182A Division EP1958577A3 (en) 1999-01-05 2000-01-04 Apparatus for intraocular retinal implant insertion

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EP1148829A1 EP1148829A1 (en) 2001-10-31
EP1148829A4 true EP1148829A4 (en) 2006-08-02

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EP08009182A Withdrawn EP1958577A3 (en) 1999-01-05 2000-01-04 Apparatus for intraocular retinal implant insertion

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US (3) US6165192A (en)
EP (2) EP1148829A4 (en)
AU (1) AU776879B2 (en)
WO (1) WO2000040161A1 (en)

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Publication number Publication date
EP1148829A1 (en) 2001-10-31
US7314474B1 (en) 2008-01-01
AU3692000A (en) 2000-07-24
EP1958577A3 (en) 2008-10-01
AU776879B2 (en) 2004-09-23
WO2000040161A1 (en) 2000-07-13
US6533798B2 (en) 2003-03-18
US6165192A (en) 2000-12-26
EP1958577A2 (en) 2008-08-20
US20020002381A1 (en) 2002-01-03

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